Automatic train-pipe connector.



J. V. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18.1914.

Patented Nov, 6, 1917.

menace.

fipeolfioation of Letters :Patent.

Patented Nov. a, nu a.

tontinuation inpart of applications Serial Ho. 737,728, filed December 19,1912, and Serial ito. 73?,392, filed Beoember so, 1912. This application filed March 1.8, 1914. Serial No. 825,632.

To all whom it may ooncem:

Be it hown that I, Josnrrr V. Roamson, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chevy Chase, in the county of Montgomery, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Connectors, of which the following isa specification. Y

My invention ,relates to automatic train pipe connectors and has for its object to provide an improved fluid conduit and an improved, coupling head through which the conduit extends to abut with a similar conduit of an opposing connector in service. I provide the abutting end of the conduit with an air extended gasket, whereby considerable angular movement between the faces of coupled connector heads may occur without destroyin the air tight connection between the abutting ends of said conduits. The conduit is removably mounted in the connector head in a novel manner and carries an improved means for locking to it panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a sectional side elevation showing my improved conduit mounted in an automatic connector head.

Fig. 2, is a rear view of the connector head showing the means of securing the supporting sprin to the conduit.

Fig. 3, 1s a front face view or the supportg base showing thenon-circular opening in its center, and

7 Fig. i, is a plan view of two of the conduits butted together as they would appear inservice.

Referring to the drawin 2' ll show my improved conduit or stem which improve by providing the head w1th a centrally located aperture 5 from the walls of which projects an annular flange or stop 6. The forward end of the conduit is provided with an enlarged portion or shoulder 7 which lies within the aperture of the head B, and bears against the flange 6 of-said head. The conduit is remova ly mounted in the'aperture 5 and assembled therein from the front of the head. A suitable gasket or sea member 8, preferably of rubber,

mounted in acoupling head B of the pin and funnel type, v

is seated in a circumferential recess or seat 9 of the portion or shoulder v"2' of the conduit,- which recess is flared at 10 to subject the rear face of the gasket to the direct action of the air pressure within the stem A, whereby the gasket will have a piston actionrelative to the conduit and be extended into tight engagement with a mating gasket of an opposin connector, even when the faces of couple connector heads are separated considerably. In like manner the gaskets will be extended into tight engagement with the non-yieldable walls 11 of the abutting ends of mating conduits by the pressure of the air acting upon the interior of the gaskets at 12.

Immediatel at the rear of the flange d the. conduit is provided with an annular groove 13 for receiving a clamp for locking the conduit tightly in the aperture 5 and to the connector head B, and for tying to the conduit the apex end of a conical spiral buffer spring 15, which spring supports the connector head and operates to place it under pressure in coupling. a

The clamp comprises halves 16, each having on its inner face a semi-circumferential recess or oove 17, and anannular seat 18 for receiving the spring, the halves being clamped together about said spring and in the annular groove 13 of the conduit by a suitable means, such as bolts 19. The spring is coiled of a gradually tapering bar and has its large end suitably secured to a base 0 by which base the automatic connector is.

suspended from a lug or bracket 20 of the car.

The base 0 is provided with a non-circu1ar opening21 for closely receiving a correspondingly shaped portion 22' of the )conduit A, to prevent undue rotation of the conduit and connector head in service. In giving to a portion of the conduit this non-circular conformation, l flatten and taper inwardly its sides, as shown, to permit partial rotation of both the connector head B and the conduit when coupled up. A shoulder or stop '24 is provided on the rear end of the conduit or stem for preventing excessive movement of .the coupling head forwardly of the base and is threaded at 25 to receive the train pipe hose of the car equipped with the automatic connector. Several of the features hereinbefore described have been previously presented in earlier applications,

namely, application Serial No. 737,798, filed December 19, 1912, and Serial No. i3? ,892,

. filed December 20, 1912, claims for such subjects-matter having been withdrawn from the applications referred to in compliance with the requirements for division. As to these features therefore the present case is a continuation of said earlier applications.

Thus I provide an improved fluid conduit or pipe adapted to be removably or permanently mounted in a train pipe connector head and to abut with a companion pipe when opposing connector heads couple up in service. With my improvement there is no air connection between the conduit and the head B, the connection from one car to another being practically continuous when mating conduits abut. The number of air connections being minimized by my iniproveinent, the danger of leaks is greatly abated while the piston action of the gaskets 5 insures it tight joint between abutting conduits, even when the conduits are I separated considerably as sometimes occurs Kati on account of relative angular movement of coupled connector heads B in service,

Having thus described my said invention,

what i claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1, In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a perforated coupling head, a flange at one end oi said perforation the flange being provided with an opening of less diameter than that of said periteration, a base, a conduit extending through said head and base and provided with a shoulder abutting said flange, and a spring interposed between said head and base and v surrounding said conduit and exerting pres- 40 sure against said flange.

2. in an automatic train pipe connector,

' the combination of a coupling head, a base provided with a non-circular opening, and a stem provided with a non-circular portion extending through said openin said portion being tapered to allow partia rotation of said head when the latter is coupled up in service 3. In an automatic train. pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a spring for extendingthe head, a'base having a noncircular opening, a stem extending through the head and provided with a asket and having also a non-circular portion operating in the opening of said base to prevent a. In an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a connector head, a stem projecting from the head, a spring for placing the head under pressure, and a clamp for securing said spring to said stem.

5. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a connector head, a fluid conduit removably mounted in the head, a spring for extending said head, and a clamp for securing said spring and conduit against axial shitting relative to said head.

6., in an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a fluid conduit for the head, a spring for extendsaid head, a clamp for securing said spring to said conduit, said clamp comprising halves having on their inner face a recess, and means for securing said halves to ether with one end of said s rin seated in ecess.

7. in an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a fluid conduit for the head provided with an annular groove, a spring for extending the head, and a clamp seated in said groove for securing said spring to said conduit,

, 8. in an automatic train pipe connector, the combination with a perforated coupling head and a'support therefor, of a flange at one end of said perforation provided with an opening of less diameter than that of a the perforation, a base having a non-circular JQSEPH V. ROBINSON.

Witnesses L, BRYANT, Si, O. McBnmn,

lllti 

